Vascular endothelial growth factor and angiopoietins regulate sinusoidal regeneration and remodeling after partial hepatectomy in rats

Figure 1 Changes in vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), angiopoietin (Ang) and Tie-2 mRNA expressions after 70% hepatectomy. A: Quantification of VEGF mRNA levels after hepatectomy by RT-PCR using a LightCycler (Roche Diagnostics). ^aP<0.05 vs 0 h; B: quantification of Ang-1 (closed circle), Ang-2 (open circle), and Tie-2 (open bar) mRNA levels after hepatectomy by RT-PCR using a LightCycler. ^aP<0.05 vs 0 h, ¹P<0.03 vs 0 h, respectively.

Figure 2 Expressions of VEGF (A), Ang-1 (B), Ang-2 (C) and Tie-2 mRNA (D) in isolated liver cells at different time points.

Figure 3 Immunohistochemical staining for angiopoietins (Ang) and Tie-2 protein. Ang-1 protein before hepatectomy (A), 96 h after hepatectomy (B), Ang-2 protein induction 120 h after hepatectomy (C), Tie-2 protein before hepatectomy (D) (original magnification x 200).

Figure 4 PCNA labeling index of sinusoidal endothelial cells (SECs) after 70 % hepatectomy in rats. ^aP<0.05 vs 0 h.

Figure 5 TUNEL staining of regenerating liver tissue at 120 h after hepatectomy. Arrows indicate TUNEL stained-positive sinusoidal cells.